Many Mexican cuisine restaurants in Houston have aspects that originate from Texas culture. the Houston area has relatively fewer national chain restaurants compared to other U.S. metropolitan areas due to the number of established local restaurant operations. Famous restaurateurs include Jim Goode and Ninfa Laurenzo as well as the families of Molina's, Pappas Restaurants, Carrabbas, and the Mandola's restaurants. Corporate involvement in culture Members of the oil and gas industry are representatives of most of the boards of Houston's arts bodies, charities, and museums. The energy companies spent funds in order to make Houston a more attractive community for their employees to live in. Religion Houston includes Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Zoroastrian, and other religious groups. LGBT Houston has one of the largest and most diverse gay communities in the nation. Recreation The city has various YMCAs under the YMCA of Greater Houston. Additionally there is a YWCA, the Gateway Branch. The YWCA opened the Masterson YWCA in 1981. It had of space. Located near the Houston Heights, it was named after a donor, Carroll Masterson, and designed by Taft & Associates. By 2001 the Houston Chronicle reported that the building was in massive disrepair. It closed circa 2005 and in 2006 the YWCA sold the facility to the YMCA for $6.8 million. See also Houston Alternative Art Culture of Dallas Culture of San Antonio Culture of Texas Culture of the United States Books about the culture of Houston: Cinema Houston References Further reading Peter Beste, Lance Scott Walker, Johan Kugelberg, B. Bun. Houston Rap. Sinecure Books. November 30, 2013. , 9781938265051. See profile. Hoffman, Ken. "Condé Nast Traveler insults Houston cuisine." Houston Chronicle. April 2, 2014. Halverson, Megan. "Swangin' and Bangin' ... and getting to that other level with the disciples of screw." Houston Press. Thursday February 7, 1997. Wise, Travis. Sandul, Paul (advisor). "Space City and shortstops: Baseball, boosterism, and Houston's coming of age" (thesis). 2010. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing. External links The Italian Cultural and Community Center in Houston Opera in the Heights Asian Focus – Houston Chronicle Contemporary Arts Museum Houston Raindrop Turkish House, Houston Dominic Walsh Dance Theater